Arizona: NRCC Backs GOP centrist in open CD-8 primary

Politics 1 ^ | Aug. 31, 2006 | Ron Gunzburger

[The Old Hoosier]

Look, I am a Graf-type guy and I hope he wins the primary.

But I also think he'll lose the general.

[Spiff]

But I also think he'll lose the general.

Well, since I live here and am very involved with this District's politics and have been for years...I think you're wrong.

[Tall_Texan]

It really shouldn't be a surprise by now. The Rove's Gallery in Washington *always* takes the side of the RINO. Always.

From the time they turned their backs on Bret Schundler in New Jersey for upsetting their annointed RINO, they've always shown their support for the "electable" RINO instead of the conservative.

Arlen Specter was the final straw. Any thought I had of giving to any nattional GOP organization went out the window with that little sabotage.

[B Knotts]

I'll say it again: NRCC, RNC, etc., have no legitimate business whatsoever in a primary.

[The Old Hoosier]

Well, I"m glad people aren't giving up.

[EternalVigilance]

The sellout continues.

[SandRat]

Read this this AM in the Tucson Red Star as they gleefully reported it as a way to keep a Kolbe Clone in office if it does go GOP. ARRRRRGGGGG!!!!!!!!

[John D]

Huffman, like Kolbe, is a GOP centrist.



A centrist? I do not know Huffman, as I have not lived in Tucson or even AZ for many years, but I did know Jim Kolbe and he has never been a centrist. He has always been left of center. If Huffman is anything like Kolbe I would hope the citizens of Tucson and Green Valley pull together and elect Graff.

[John D]

I can not believe DLfromthedesert has not contributed to this thread. I think she is a Graff supporter.
If you have a ping list for AZ politics I would appreciate if you could put me on it. While I do not still live there I am still interested in AZ politics. Most of our friends when my wife and I lived in Tucson were involved in the Republican party.
Thanks,
John

[Republican Wildcat]

Don't donate to these committees until after the primaries are over.

[Spiff]

Kolbe, unlike Huffman, was actually more loyal to the Republican Party and voted surprisingly often, given his liberal views, with the Party when it really counted. Huffman, on the other hand, has always been at odds with Republican majority leadership in the AZ House, he turned coat with a cabal of 12 reps and joined with the Dems to pass the liberal Dem governor's budget over the Republican majority budget, and he votes far too often with the Democrats. He's not a centrist, he's a liberal and he's worse than Kolbe. His record proves that.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Geez Louise! I thought it was a bad situation here in Tennessee when one conservative cancelled the other out (Van Hilleary vs. Ed Bryant) enabling blatant Democrat-appeasing RINO Bob Corker to run against Tennessee's Obama, John Ford Jr. - scion of one of the most corrupt politically connected families in recent history.

We don't know if Corker can take Frist's seat because of all the bad blood. Had one of the conservatives won it would have been no contest. It's looking like one (Van Hilleary) was pushed to stay in the race just to take votes away from the certain winner, Ed Bryant. I added it up myself and that's what happened.

So we have a weak psedo-conservative Republican famous for cutting deals versus a Democrat who's party is turning out all guns to get that Senate seat. I hope your state has better luck.

[Clintonfatigued]

This is inexcusable. This is all about the Washington, D.C. establishment not being serious about border security.

[Soul Seeker]

Typical.

It's about getting to the point where an endorsement from the GOP in a primary is going to have to be used as a red flag. Same as when the NYT's endorses someone.

[Delphinium]

This makes me sick. The party should never have endorsed either, but if they felt like they should have, it should have been the Republican.

[DLfromthedesert]

I called Randy this morning; had to go to work, but I asked him to send out a blast e-mail to his campaign supporters about contacting the NRCC.

I also spoke to Paula Maxwell from the Hellon campaign. We are united on this.

[EternalVigilance]

I've met Randy a couple of times. He's an awesome candidate.

Personally, I think he's going to win in spite of this treachery by our squishy GOP leadership.

Once again, they've put their base's hard-earned money on a broken-down liberal nag.

[Spiff]

On Randy Graf's website there's a downloadable copy of one of the campaign mailers which compares Randy Graf's and Steve Huffman's views and records.

Here are the main points:

Issue	Graf	Huffman
National Guard on the Border	Supports	Voted "No"
In-State Tuition for Illegals?	Opposes	Voted "Yes"
Proposition 200 (No Benefits for Illegals)	Supported	Opposed
School Choice	Supports	Opposes
Taxes & Spending	Rated "Friend of the Taxpayer"	Wors Grade of any Republican State Rep.
Protecting your 2nd Amendment Rights	"A+" NRA Rating GOA Endorsed	8-Year Record of Anti- Gun Owner Votes
Marriage Only Between One Man and One Woman	Supports	Voted "No"
Eliminating Marriage Penalty Tax	Supports Eliminating the Tax	Voted to KEEP the Tax
Pro-Life	Yes - Only Pro-Life Candidate in Race	No - Earned Pro Abortion Rating
Parental Consent for Abortions for Minor Children	Yes	Voted "No"
Tort Reform to End Frivilous Lawsuits	Supports	Opposes
Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)	Supports	Opposes
Arizona Tax Revolt	Supports	Opposes

Graf is clearly the real Republican in this race. Huffman can run but he can't hide from his liberal record.

[Lancey Howard]

Many people, on Free Republic, said that they don't donate to the NRCC because the money might be given to RINO's.

(raising hand) Yep, that's me. I cut 'em off because of crap like this.

[Lancey Howard]

Yes, there is only one Republican in this primary, yet the GOP gives money to the scumbag liberal.
Un-friggin-believable.